AT&T Homezone TV Service to Feature On-Demand Video Content from Akimbo

Agreement Will Deliver Thousands of Movies and Videos to the TV

SAN ANTONIO, SAN MATEO, Calif., April 18, 2006 — AT&T Inc. (NYSE: T) and Akimbo™ Systems today announced an agreement to offer the award-winning Internet-based Akimbo video-on-demand service to subscribers of AT&T’s Homezone™ TV service, scheduled to launch later this summer. AT&T Homezone subscribers will use their converged set-top boxes to access thousands of video programs and movies.

AT&T Homezone, currently in trial in several states, will integrate AT&T Yahoo!® High Speed Internet and AT&T | DISH Network programming to provide video on demand, digital video recording, and Internet content, including photos and music, via a new award-winning set-top box. AT&T Homezone will be available to customers who purchase both AT&T | DISH Network satellite television and AT&T Yahoo! High Speed Internet services.

AT&T plans to offer the content available from Akimbo’s library of more than 10,000 television programs and movies-on-demand. Akimbo is the fastest-growing video-on-demand service in the United States, offering videos and movies from more than 165 content partners throughout the world. Each week, Akimbo adds more than 150 new mainstream and niche titles in 85 different categories, such as music, sports, independent film, anime, major motion pictures, education, children’s programming and foreign language.

The service will have an online guide that enables AT&T Homezone subscribers to view a comprehensive listing of all Akimbo videos and movies. To help subscribers find videos that match their interests, the on-screen guide features a video search function, full program descriptions and video previews. Customers can also access the guide remotely from an Internet-connected computer to browse and download programs so that new shows are available for viewing when they get home.

“Our agreement with Akimbo is yet another milestone as we prepare to launch our AT&T Homezone service – an entertainment service that we believe will be more powerful and compelling than anything offered on the market today,” said Scott Helbing, chief marketing officer-AT&T Consumer. “Consumers want better solutions and more choices for entertainment, and we’re committed to delivering that.”

"AT&T’s innovations are legendary, and the Homezone service follows this tradition," said Joshua Goldman, CEO of Akimbo Systems. "As the first Internet video-on-demand service for TV, Akimbo is delighted to work with AT&T on its groundbreaking Homezone initiative to bring people the best in communications and entertainment, wherever they may be."

AT&T is the nation’s largest telecommunications provider. With more than 7 million high speed Internet lines in service, AT&T is also the nation’s largest DSL provider. The agreement with Akimbo focuses on maximizing AT&T’s industry-leading high speed DSL customer base and offering differentiated services that consumers increasingly demand.

About the New AT&T
AT&T Inc. is one of the world's largest telecommunications holding companies and is the largest in the United States. Operating globally under the AT&T brand, AT&T companies are recognized as the leading worldwide providers of IP-based communications services to business and as leading U.S. providers of high-speed DSL Internet, local and long distance voice, and directory publishing and advertising services. AT&T Inc. holds a 60 percent ownership interest in Cingular Wireless, which is the No. 1 U.S. wireless services provider with more than 54 million wireless customers. Additional information about AT&T Inc. and AT&T products and services is available at www.TheNewATT.com

About Akimbo
With the Akimbo Service, your wish is on demand™. Named to the OnHollywood 100 by AlwaysOn and “Best of What’s New” by Popular Science, Akimbo has also accepted 2005 Digital World Innovations and CES Best of Innovations 2005 awards. With 12 patent applications featuring more than 150 patent claims, Akimbo is the first company to deliver digital-quality video-on-demand to any television via a broadband-Internet connection. Akimbo has offices in San Mateo, Calif. and is a privately held company funded by Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Sprout Group and Zone Ventures. For more information, visit www.akimbo.com

International House Theater To Host The Haydenfilms Festival Showcase

Kutztown, Pa., April 17, 2006-Billboard Connection and The Berks Arts Council are proud to introduce The Haydenfilms Festival Showcase, being held at the International House Theater in Philadelphia on Wednesday April 26, 2006 at 7:15 pm. This free showcase features independent films from several of the most talented local directors currently working in the industry, including Quinn Saunders, grand prize winner of the 2005 Haydenfilms Online Film Festival, and Powell Weaver, a recent award winner of the NYU Annual First Run Film Festival.

For over twenty years, International House has been the leading venue in Philadelphia for film programming, independent premieres and cutting edge avant-garde cinema from around the world. Admission to the event is free, thanks to the support of local sponsors Billboard Connection in Hatfield, Pa., and The Berks Arts Council, who are pleased to announce “The Berks Movie Madness Festival” being held at the Goggleworks in Reading, Pa. in October 2006.

The evening’s screenings include: “Fortunate Son,” directed by Quinn Saunders, “The Prince of Jersey,” directed by Alex Maslow, “I Killed Zoe Day,” directed by Powell Weaver, as well as a special selection of short films from the 2005 SouthSide Film Festival in Bethlehem, Pa. A question-and-answer segment featuring several of the directors and other industry insiders will follow the film screenings.

"‘Fortunate Son’ is an incredibly moving film and we are honored to have drawn that caliber of production to our festival. Haydenfilms is looking forward to Season Two of our online festival that begins on August 30, 2006," said Hayden Craddolph, president and founder of Haydenfilms.

Haydenfilms LLC, founded in 2001, is an independent film production and distribution company based in Kutztown, Pa. Its mission is to create and foster an online network of independent and student film producers and to provide the support and resources necessary for filmmakers to succeed. The Haydenfilms Online Film Festival was the first online festival to accept all short films regardless of genre and the first to offer a $10,000 grand prize. The Haydenfilms website provides industry news, a Crew Database, a Production Board, and shopping for filmmaking software and equipment.

For more details on the Haydenfilms Festival Showcase, as well as other Haydenfilms programs and events, visit www.haydenfilms.com

Zeke Zelker to Hold Auditions for Latest Film "In Search Of" will be shot in the Lehigh Valley this Spring

ALLENTOWN—The local boy is back, this time with a film large in scope and even larger in production, Zeke's production company, Independent Dream Machine (IDM), will be holding open auditions for their upcoming feature film In Search Of at the Banana Factory at 25 West 3rd St. in Bethlehem, PA. The company is seeking actors to support their star studded cast.

The award-winning motion picture company is seeking actors ranging in age from 12 months to 60 years for over 70 supporting roles and nearly 300 extras for the film. “In Search Of” is about people using sex as the vehicle to get something more out of life without thinking about the repercussions or consequences of their actions.

"Crash explored race issues, Traffic explored drug issues, we're exploring issues based around sex, after all it's why we're all here", states Zeke.

On Friday, April 14, IDM will be auditioning: children, 12 months to 5 years old from 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., actors over 40 from 12:30 to 3:30 and actors 13 to 19 from 3:30 until 6:30 p.m.

On Saturday, April 15, the company will be auditioning actors ages 20-30 years from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and actors ages 30-40 years from 2 to 5 p.m.

Interested actors should refer to www.isomovie.com for further information about character descriptions and sides. Extras are encouraged to fill out the online actor application and upload their headshot Actors can mail their resumes and headshots to Garrett Marks, Independent Dream Machine 1521 1/2 Turner St., Allentown PA 18102.

For more information contact Garrett at 610.433.2781.

Behind the Scenes - focus on the filmmaker

Name: Steve Desmond
Age: 23
Hometown: Chicago, IL
College & Degree/s: University of Southern California
B.A. Film and Television Production
Current Title: Screenwriter

Family/Personal info: Born and raised in suburban Chicago. Mom is a retired elementary school teacher/principal, dad a retired Partner at accounting firm PriceWaterhouse Coopers. Younger sister, Jackie, is a student at USC where she majors in Communication and plays on the golf team.

Favorite Film: "E.T."
Favorite Filmmakers: Steven Spielberg, Alfred Hitchcock, Tim Burton
Web site: www.dreamingants.com


Your film “Life or Breath” is an adapted screenplay based on a short story by Nelson DeMille. What attracted you to this story?

The juxtaposition between comedy and suspense reminded me of all the great Hitchcock films that I love. Nelson DeMille did an incredible job of actually making you feel sorry for a man that was going to murder his wife. Most of all, I loved the ironic ending. Though we actually changed it a little. In the short story, he gets into a car accident but we felt it'd be even funnier to hit him with an ambulance.

What is your favorite part of the filmmaking process?

The latter stages of postproduction. When you're approaching picture lock or sound designing. You can see the end in sight and your film's finally coming together before your eyes. At this point, all your hard work over the past several months starts to pay off. At least hopefully.


Who or what shaped your desire to become a filmmaker?

When I was five years old, my babysitter tried to keep me entertained by showing me how to make a home movie using our old VHS camera. I was hooked! I actually thought the movie I was making with her would play in theatres! Over the years, I kept making little, silly home movies with the neighborhood kids and always had such a great time. When I found out you could actually do this for a living, I figured why not go for it. In terms of influences, I grew up watching Star Wars and Spielberg films and have since always gravitated towards the larger, popcorn films with broad audience appeal.

Who currently working in the film industry do you most want to work with and why?

Steven Spielberg. I mean come on, who wouldn't? It'd be a dream come true.

What is your next project?

I've written three screenplays with Mike Sherman (co-writer of "Life or Breath"). A sports comedy called "The Sound of Football", a darkly comedic thriller called "Bridal Creek", and a children's fantasy called "The Monsters of Sunnyville". Samples are available on our website. We're hoping to sell one of them in the coming year.

What do you consider the best film ever made?

While it's not my personal favorite, I think "Citizen Kane" is the best film ever made. I think the AFI got it right when it named it #1. It just revolutionized everything from acting style to story structure to cinematography to sound design. Filmmaking changed after that film came out.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I would love to be gearing up to direct my first studio feature film.

The Next Big Idea -- The shortlist judges weigh in

Visit www.gettyimages.com/thenextbigidea to check-out the creative visions of 30 talented designers and directors from around the world and vote for the top ten films. The final top ten films will be screened before audiences at major industry events and film festivals across the globe in May 2006. One grand prize filmmaker will win $10,000 in support of a future creative endeavor.

About the competition:

Getty Images challenged aspiring creative professionals to conceive and execute their films through a groundbreaking approach: exploring the one thing that links all creative work - The Big Idea - produce a 30 - 60-second film with at least half of the content originating from the millions of still images and over 90,000 film clips at Getty Images, including high production aerial footage and feature film outtakes from Universal Studios. Finalists responded to the brief exploring subjects ranging from nature ("Indian Steps") to time travel ("The Closest Thing to Time Travel") to memory ("In Memory Of") to a machine that paints reality ("Color Robot") to visual concepts that express unfinished thoughts ("Defective").

The Next Big Idea represents the evolution of Getty Images' highly successful 2004 campaign, The Big Idea, which featured shorts from seven internationally acclaimed designers and directors. Their films demonstrated new ways to conceive and execute ideas via a revolutionary digital workflow.

WHEN:

Online judging takes place March 27th - April 14th, at www.gettyimages.com/thenextbigidea

Berks Arts Council Announces Short Film/Video Competition for October’s Berks Movie Madness Film Festival

Reading, PA, March 3, 2006—The Berks Arts Council (BAC) announced today that it will hold a Short Film/Video Competition in conjunction with its 1st Annual Film Festival: “Berks Movie Madness” from October 4 through 12, 2006, at various venues in downtown Reading. The focus of this first-ever festival will be on the careers and accomplishments of Reading and Berks County people involved in the cinema.

The festival is now accepting entries for the competition in three categories. Entries cannot exceed 10 minutes. All genres will be accepted—animation, live action, documentary, memoir, narrative fiction, etc.—and winners will be recognized during the festival.

F. Alan Shirk, festival chairman, said the contest—sponsored by Comcast Corporation, Manderbach Ford and Haydenfilms—is open to all Berks County natives or current residents in three age groups—high school students (grades 9 to 12 in the 2205-2006 school year), college students (under age 25 and enrolled in undergrad or graduate programs for the 2005-2006 school year) and adults.

All entries must be new work completed after January 1, 2003. Submissions are limited to two per person and there is a $5 fee per entry with proceeds going to the arts council. All entries must be received by August 15, 2006 and will be judged by a panel of media and film experts on technical production merit, creativity and originality.

A winner will be selected in each age group and winning and possibly other entries will be screened at a ceremony during the festival on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2006 at the Wyndham Hotel. Each winner will receive a $250 award, automatic entry in Haydenfilms 2007 Online Film festival, a prize package and other recognition.

Liz Sterner, Comcast director of Government and Community Affairs, organized the competition with support from Con Karlson, an actor and producer who operates Con Karlson Photography, and Hayden Craddolph, president and founder of Haydenfilms.

Further details as well as downloadable pdfs of all necessary forms are available at the Berks Arts Council website, www.berksarts.org

The Berks Movie Madness Film Festival will feature numerous activities including screenings of contemporary and historic films, appearances and participation by native celebrities, workshops and lectures, filmmaker question and answer (Q&A) sessions and exhibits and special events.

Screenings, workshops and special events will take place at Reading Area Community College, Canal Street Restaurant, the Oxygen Gallery and several locations along Washington Street, including the GoggleWorks, Trinity Lutheran Church, The Wyndham Hotel and the Hispanic Center in the former Berkshire Building. Most of the activities will take place on the weekend which will kickoff with a public gala “Hollywood Premiere” party at the Canal Street Restaurant and Pub, 535 Canal St., Reading on Friday evening, October 6, complete with a red carpet, searchlights, impersonators, stars and other show business touches.

A number of workshops are also planned, including an acting master class conducted by Actress Lisa Eichhorn. Other workshops and/or lectures will cover screenwriting, a history of Hollywood directors, how to make a movie, budgeting and production, music videos, commercials and Internet film festivals. Another highlight will be a night of films at the Historical Society of Berks County, 940 Centre Ave., Reading, on Thursday, October 5.

The festival is being funded by the Berks Arts Council and grants from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Private sponsors are also being sought with opportunities to sponsor the entire event or blocks of programming.

Other details of the Berks Movie Madness Film Festival will be posted on the council’s website: www.berksarts.org

Behind the Scenes - focus on the filmmaker

Name: James Oxford
Age: 39
Hometown: Detroit Michigan
College & Degree/s: BFA-Center for Creative Studies-Detroit
MFA-New York Academy of Figurative Art-New York
Current Title: Director and Film Illustrator

Favorite Film: Blade Runner
Favorite Filmmaker: Ridley Scott
Your Web site: Oxford-Entertainment.com and jamesoxford.com

Your film “SmartCard” is very prescient. What gave you the idea for this screenplay?

It was pitched by my writer Joe Anaya. I knew that was something that I would like to create into a film so we went for it. As for the film being prescient. I've always believed in government and corporate manipulation of their consumer base. Then the consumer following the propaganda without questioning it's validity. The saddest reality is that the government can slap them in the face today and they will still follow them blindly.

Your education and background are in art. How did you get involved in filmmaking?

I have two degree in fine art. I studied figurative sculpture, drawing and painting. My hero was Michelangelo, but I found out not many people wanted naked people in their living room. So when I could not pay my bills I moved to Hollywood to design for films. In Hollywood I have worked with the biggest names in the business: Steven Spielberg (Lost World), Ed Zwick (The Last Samurai), and Brian Singer (X-Men 2 and Superman.) Working with them was great, but I had to express myself creatively and not just work on other people’s projects. So Smartcard was born.

What is your favorite part of the filmmaking process?

Collaboration. That was my favorite part. I had a whole crew full of talented artists. I was very lucky. I enjoyed every moment I spent with them. I had my ideas and they gave me theirs and we created something that I'm very proud of. People have an illusion that the director is creating everything and he does everything himself, but filmmaking is a gathering of great talent from several artistic arenas. It was the joy of working with others - that gave me the most satisfaction at the end of the day.

What films besides “SmartCard” have you done?

I've shot a trailer for a script I've written for a feature film and I went to Bulgaria last spring to shoot 2nd unit on a Sci-Fi channel movie. As an illustrator/designer for film one of the last films I worked on was Superman.

What is your next project?

I'm focusing my career on directing films this year and not designing so anything could happen.

What do you consider the best film ever made?

The list can go on forever. Best drama: Lawrence of Arabia. Best Sci-Fi: Bladerunner. Best Horror: Jaws. Best Comedy: The Pink Panther Strikes Again. Best Western: Once Upon the Time in the West.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

I see myself directing films with strong social issues, very similar to "Smartcard." I desire to make films that make people question what their existence is about. What they desire. Who they are. Or even what they have become. I will not give them the answer, only show them what could be. It is their choice to decide what to do.

Berks Arts Council to Hold 1st Annual Film Festival: "Berks Movie Madness" from October 4 through 8, 2006

Reading, PA, February 6, 2006--The Berks Arts Council (BAC) will hold its 1st Annual Film Festival: "Berks Movie Madness" from October 4 through 8, 2006, at various venues in downtown Reading. The focus of this first-ever festival will be on the careers and accomplishments of Reading and Berks County people involved in the cinema.

"We are probably best known for our annual First Energy Berks Jazz Fest, which has gained international fame, as well as our support of and events related to the visual arts. It's amazing how many people in our town are or were in the movies, so we're glad to be able to cover this aspect of the arts," said Connie Leinbach, executive director of BAC, the non-profit umbrella arts organization for greater Reading.

The five-day Berks Movie Madness Film Festival will feature numerous activities including screenings of contemporary and historic films, appearances and participation by native celebrities, workshops and lectures, filmmaker question and answer (Q&A) sessions, a film/video competition for different age groups, and exhibits and special events.

F. Alan Shirk, festival chairman and a member of the BAC board of directors, said the festival committee is putting together a diverse program with broad appeal. "Our goal is to showcase, celebrate and recognize the tremendous talent we've uncovered and to do all that we can to encourage and support local films and filmmakers," he said.

Among those scheduled to participate are actress Lisa Eichhorn, actor Michael Constantine, director/actor Ray Dennis Steckler, production designer/writer/producer Jim Steranko, film historian and Reading Museum director emeritus Dr. Robert Metzger, screenwriter John Zaring, retired New York City producer Jim Hubbard, actor/videographer Conrad Karlson, director/production manager Costa Mantis, Haydenfilms founder Hayden Craddolph, filmmaker Bob Cesca, photographer Megan Ulrich, filmmaker Kate Williamson and director/cinematographer Brett Bagenstose.

Among films being screened are those featuring local actor Ed Kemmer, actress June Earle (June Bixler), actress Dorothy Christy, actor Jack Luden, author Walter Farley, actress and Playboy Playmate Delores Wells and actor/stuntman Joie Chitwood.

Screenings, workshops and special events will take place at Reading Area Community College, Canal Street Restaurant, the Oxygen Gallery and several locations along Washington Street, including the GoggleWorks, Trinity Lutheran Church, The Wyndham Hotel and the Hispanic Center in the former Berkshire Building. Most of the activities will take place on the weekend which will kickoff with a public gala "Hollywood Premiere" party at the Canal Street Restaurant and Pub, 535 Canal St., Reading on Friday evening, October 6, complete with a red carpet, searchlights, impersonators, stars and other show business touches.

While final details are being worked out and will be announced as the festival draws nearer, Shirk said a major highlight will be the Oct. 7 evening showing of John Updike's "Rabbit Run," a feature film based on one of his novels and the only Hollywood feature film ever shot in Reading and Berks County. It starred James Caan, Anjanette Comer and Carrie Snodgress, premiered here in 1970 and was never released on video. The Updike event will also include the short feature "A&P," an interview of him by the Boston Globe and a panel discussion.

This will be preceded by an afternoon bill featuring two films (to be announced) of Steckler and Francis Ford Coppola's "Bram Stoker's Dracula" for which Steranko did the production design.Both will also be available for a Q&A session.

Berks Movie Madness will also include blocks of programming for Latinos, featuring director Robert Rodriguez' original "El Mariachi;" for children, featuring the classic "The Black Stallion" based on Farley's book; and a mix of documentaries shown by Bullfrog Films, Oley.

"Reading 1974," a film by Gary Adlestein, Jerry Orr and Mantis, will headline works related to the city and county. Adlestein and Orr are the founders of Berks Filmmakers, Inc., one of America's oldest experimental film showcases founded in 1975. The local works will also include a showing of the 1969 Group W documentary, "The Corrupt City."

A number of workshops are also planned, including an acting master class conducted by Eichhorn and an acting workshop led by Karlson. Other workshops and/or lectures will cover screenwriting, a history of Hollywood directors, how to make a movie, budgeting and production, music videos, commercials and Internet film festivals.

Another highlight will be a night of films at the Historical Society of Berks County, 940 Centre Ave., Reading, on Thursday, October 5. In addition to a variety of 8mm films of the Reading Fair and other attractions--including some never seen before--the society will show one of Luden's famous Westerns, "Rolling Caravans." The Kutztown Strand, the Hamburg Strand and the State Theater in Boyertown plan to offer programming related to the film festival on the evening of Wednesday, October 4.

Finally, the festival will end on Sunday evening, October 8 with a ceremony honoring the winners of a special Berks Movie Madness film/video (maximum 10 minute entry competition organized by Comcast. The contest is open to any native or resident of Reading or Berks County and will include three age categories--high school students, college students and all other ages.

The festival is being funded by the Berks Arts Council and grants from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Private sponsors are also being sought with opportunities to sponsor the entire event or blocks of programming.

Details of the Berks Arts Council's Berks Movie Madness Film Festival will be posted on the council's website: www.berksarts.org Or call the council at 610-898-1930.